What is Permaculture?

Permaculture is a positivistic ethical design science that creates regenerative life-support systems that mimic the patterns and processes found in nature, and that provide diversity, stability and resilience. These systems yield an abundance of shelter, water, energy and food to meet local requirements. In other words, permaculture is human ingenuity married to the wisdom of the wild.

Offering a holistic approach to regenerative living, permaculture highlights individual and community responsibilities for sustainability and focuses on choices, values, ethics and the way in which human beings interact with the natural world. Sustainable living is a lifestyle choice that considers a person’s relationship within the community and the natural environment, and seeks harmony with both.

Much more than just sustainable agriculture, permaculture is an integral view that incorporates the full spectrum of human and natural elements: the environment, energy, resources, housing, community, technology, education, the arts, spirituality, healthcare and more. It is a solutions-based way of thinking and an integrated design system that provides a realistic alternative for future sustainability. By creating resource-efficient and productive human environments, permaculture reduces our footprint on the Earth.